The ArcelorMittal Orbit in Pictures

Presiding over the Olympic Park will be the Anish Kapoor-designed ArcelorMittal Orbit observation tower, which Mayor Boris Johnson described as that "something extra" needed to "distinguish the east London skyline" and "arouse the curiosity and wonder of Londoners and visitors". Painted red and located between the Olympic Stadium and the Aquatics Centre, the Orbit promises to be one of the highlights of the Olympic Park and a must for visitors.

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"An icon to match the Eiffel Tower"

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Anish Kapoor's 'Orbit' is set to be one of the defining legacies of the 2012 Games, with the unique red spiralling structure, located in the Olympic Park next to the Stadium, set to take a dominant role in the East London skyline for years to come.

Early construction

ArcelorMittal Orbit

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Construction began on the Orbit on November 4th 2010, with a grand ceremony held to mark the beginning of the work. The construction was scheduled to be completed during the summer of 2012, in time for the Games.

Looping lattice of tubular steel

ArcelorMittal Orbit

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The Orbit, which will be Britain’s tallest sculpture, will consist of a continuous looping lattice of tubular steel. The work is said to be "at the cutting edge of sculpture, architecture and engineering".

114 metres tall

ArcelorMittal Orbit

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Standing at an impressive 114 metres high, the Orbit will offer spectacular views of the Olympic Park and of the rest of London and will also be one of the defining aesthetic features of the park.

£22.7million project

£22.7million project

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ArcelorMittal will fund up to £19.6million of the £22.7million project with the outstanding £3.1million provided by the Greater London Authority. ArcelorMittal is a Tier 2 sponsor and the Official Steel Supporter of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"Structure made up of discreet elements"

ArcelorMittal Orbit

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Designer Anish Kapoor: "The ArcelorMittal Orbit has been conceived of as a structure made up of discreet elements which seek to engage the viewer in experience through form, colour and reflectivity."

1500 tonnes

ArcelorMittal Orbit

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Fifteen hundred tonnes of steel, 35,000 bolts and 19,000 litres of paint will be required to build the sculpture and, when complete, it will receive up to 770 visitors per hour.

Spiralling staircase

ArcelorMittal Orbit

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Visitors will be able to save their legs and take a trip up the structure in a lift. When it comes to getting back down, people will have the option of walking down the spiralling staircase to get to the bottom.

20 mile views

ArcelorMittal Orbit

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On a clear day, visitors to the ArcelorMittal Orbit will be able to see over 20 miles into the surrounding distance from the top of the viewing platform, making it one of the best places in the city for views.

Twice the height of Olympic Stadium

ArcelorMittal

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The Orbit will have 2 passenger lifts of 21 person capacity each which will be able to provide up to 770 people per hour unparalleled views of the Olympic Stadium, which sits at just under half the height of the Orbit.

Lasting legacy of the Games

ArcelorMittal Orbit

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The sculpture is a permanent structure and after the Games it will be part of the lasting legacy of the area as it continues to attract visitors to east London.